We are at a very important time in the beef industry. We need leadership right now like never before.
I would like to share this letter from a friend of mine who I believe have shown great leadership in thought about our future. Thanks Bill for your service to this great nation. Trent
Trent
Thank you for another excellent article filled with insight.
Euphoria is not a word I would use for cattle ranchers. Sure, Ma Nature has given us high calf prices. But look at Texas and Oklahoma burning. It is so dry in Northwest Arkansas we can drive fertilizer trucks on fields usually spread in July. Nature determines cattle prices. Not exports. And prices have nothing to do with Checkoff taxes. Imports and rain will bring down beef prices. You’re also right about government.
All those government acronyms: ADT, VFD, RFID, etc. are pesky.
But fewer cattle should mean fewer Checkoff taxes, right? Also, if over 100K cattle producers quit wouldn’t that mean fewer customers for WLJ, DTN, Cattle Fax, etc? My guess, CBB has not seen a decrease in funding?
They may not be getting as much tax revenue from US cattle producers but importers still pay $1 dollar for every 600 pounds of beef coming off ships from Paraguay, Brazil, and Australia. Your December issue of WLJ showed Mexican imports of cattle at almost 1.5 million head. There is $1.5 million for CCB from Mexican imports. Mexican imports are ahead of last year.
In my opinion, American Cattle Ranchers are some of the most ignorant (gullible) people producing food. Example of that is a guy I sat next to at an Angus Association meeting. He said if he sells his cattle to a neighbor, he puts $1 per head in the mail to CBB. The guy knew EPDs for bulls and dams but had no idea he was funding a group supporting cattle producers in foreign countries. When asked if he had seen an ad saying, “USA Beef is what’s for dinner”, he didn’t have an answer. Another guy said, “the US exports more cattle/beef than it imports.” Wrong. One woman said we needed RFID to sell cattle. WRONG! She also said she would gladly give government access to her place.
I have a question. If the beef checkoff were repealed tomorrow, would cattle production in the USA stop? No. But, a lot of people would have to get real jobs. That huge office complex in Centennial, CO could be rented to different renter. You might say, “but who would fight government?” It’s not the same group (NCBA) who supports EID for cattle and federal ID for ranches.
Anyway, great article. Stop by if you’re in the area.
Regards,
Bill Yancey
Captain, USN-RET